佛果圜悟禪師碧巖錄 8.10

8.10

[73] Case: A monk asked Master Ma, "Apart from the four propositions and detached from the hundred negations, please, Master, point directly to me the meaning of the Western Come-over." (Where did he get this topic? Where did he get this news?)
Master Ma said, "I am tired today and cannot speak for you. Go ask Zhizang." (Retreating three steps, he misses it without even knowing. Concealing the body while revealing the shadow. No harm in this old fellow passing it off to someone else.)
The monk asked Zhizang. (One should also press him a bit. He misses it without even knowing.)
Zhizang said, "Why not ask the Venerable?" (The singed-tail tiger comes out of the grass! What does he say? He simply ties himself up with grass rope; he is completely dead.)
The monk said, "The Venerable told me to come ask." (He likes other people's instructions. The first arrow was still light, but the second arrow went deep.)
Zhizang said, "I have a headache today and cannot speak for you. Go ask Brother Hai." (No harm in being eighty-four kalyāṇamitras; they all suffer from this same illness.)
The monk asked Brother Hai. (Passing it on again to someone else. Holding stolen goods and crying injustice!)
Hai said, "When I get to this point, I don't understand." (No need for chatter. Let it be pitch black for thousands and myriads of eons.)
The monk reported this to Master Ma. (This monk does have a bit of an eye.)
Master Ma said, "Zang's head is white; Hai's head is black." (The emperor's decree within the realm; the general's command beyond the frontier.)